Double update. If you just went to this chapter, head back to chapter 17. I forgot to update last weekend.

Revan followed Rana and Alan into the kitchen. This wasn't a good idea. He wasn't a cook. Sure, he had requested to help with lunch, but…

No.

There had to be a reason Alan wanted him here. More than just trying to bridge the years they had lost as a family. It could be nothing as well and Alan simply wanted to get to know Revan.

"Alvar," – Alan held out a datapad containing recipe to him – "can you get started on this?"

Revan took the datapad and nodded. It wasn't a complex one but more than he had done while helping with lunch.

"Rana." Alan passed her another datapad.

"On it!" She grinned, eyes sparkling. Her gaze flashed towards Revan. A slight sneer curled her lips.

Alan limped over to the counter.

"You're not stealing the diner from me," Rana hissed.

Okay, what? Revan stared at the young woman.

"I know you're after grandfather's diner." She glared up at Revan. "That's the only reason you keep helping him cook."

"What?" Revan chuckled. "I have no interest in running a diner." Or cooking really. He had offered to help at lunch to get away from questions digging into his past. The only reason he was here right now was because Alan had asked him to help. With three of them cooking it would go faster than just one or two people.

"Don't play dumb," Rana growled.

She was the only one being dumb here. Revan moved away from her to help with preparing the meal. It was up to her to believe his words or not. He had already stated he had no desire to run a diner. It would only cause the place to go to ruin or just shut down because he didn't have the time for it.

Revan removed his robes. His hair was still up from lunch so there was no need to worry about it this time around. He joined Alan at the counter to start preparing his part of the dishes for the evening.

"I remember when you were little always trying to help prepare the meal." Alan gave a soft laugh. "You just always getting underfoot in an attempt to help."

"Most children are like that," Revan stated. From Alan's comment it appeared Revan was no exception. Though, Reca had informed him of this earlier.

Alan chuckled. "True enough."

Revan's communicator went off. "Excuse me." Revan pulled out his communicator.

Rana's eyes burned him.

"Master Tarvon," Jasper greeted.

Revan released his hold on the food he was copping. The knife flashed as it continued to slice the meat despite him not holding it.

"Yes, Jasper?"

Jasper cleared his throat. "Did you have any plans for the council tomorrow?"

The knife lowered to the counter. The meat slid into the pan. He lifted the spices with the Force, measuring them out before sprinkling them over the meat.

"Outside of one in the afternoon for Darious and myself, no. Why do you ask?"

He moved to slicing the vegetables for the other part of the dish he'd been assigned.

"Well," Jasper started. He took a deep breath. "I was sort of invited to a family gathering by the lieutenant."

"Lieutenant Kane?" Revan asked, frowning. He and Jasper did share the same surname. Of course… "You're his brother, aren't you?"

"I suppose I am," Jasper confessed.

This would work in their favor.

Revan finished chopping the vegetables and added them to dish to simmer with the meat as the recipe called for.

"There is no reason to deny the request. After all, it was agreed such meetings would help the council members," Revan reminded him.

A breath came over the communicator.

"It will also aid in another matter."

"What would that be?" Jasper asked.

"I'll inform you in the morning."

"All right." Another breath. "I'll inform the lieutenant I'll be joining him tomorrow. May the Force be with you, Master Tarvon." The communication ended.

Revan lowered the link. It seemed the Force was handing everyone their family. Only Meetra and Bastila remained who hadn't met a family member here. Bastila wouldn't as both her parents were dead, and she had no other relation outside of Vaner. Meetra, well, Revan knew this wasn't her homeworld. Thus, it was slime they would end up coming across her family while here.

It was a matter to worry about later.

"How?"

Revan blinked and looked towards Rana. She was looking between the recipe Alan had given Revan and the dish Revan was preparing.

"It's exact to the letter, but you weren't even paying attention. Everything was just flying around." She gaped.

"Not paying attention?" Revan frowned. He had been paying attention. Sure most of his focus was on the conversation, but he had cooked like this many times before. Back on Coruscant on the nights Bastila was out he had either settled down to play with Vaner while cooking with the Force or had been reading a datapad if Vaner was napping or wanting to play by himself to even holding conversations with Mission and Zaalbar.

"It's not possible." Rana glared at him over the top of the datapad.

"I generally cook like that," Revan stated.

"You're supposed to give cooking all of your attention, not talk to someone while doing whatever you were doing," Rana snapped.

"Using the Force?" Revan asked. Since when did it required all his focus? The food never burned. Wasn't that what counted?

"It's cheating!" Rana snapped.

Well, this was odd.

Alan looked up from what he'd been preparing. A frown furled his brow. "Enough, Rana. Alvar knows what's he doing and as long as the food doesn't burn and is edible, I'm fine with it."

Rana gaped. "But, but," she groped for words.

So much for getting on the girl's good side earlier by asking her to help as well. Granted it had been a lost cause the moment she thought he wanted the diner.

"Rana, please pay attention to what you're cooking." Alan gestured towards the dish she had been preparing. It was barely started. "It will take time to cook and I doubt everyone wants to wait too long to hear what happened today."

Rana grumbled. She shot a nasty look over her shoulder before returning to work.

Perhaps the Force had just willed her to hate him for a reason other than him being Revan. Revan shoved the thought aside. There was too much to do without adding worrying about how all his family viewed him on top of it all.

Still…

He turned back to the dish he was working on.

The mere notion she thought he wanted the diner was odd in and of itself. Revan barely had to breath with everything going on, especially with the other masters continually turning him for advice or details on a plan he had yet to think of.

Another matter to add to his list given the events of the day was to revise the original plan on splitting up. Sith changed everything. It would be far to risky to have them spread too thin. Meetra and Jasper would still have to remain here with their padawans, but Revan would need to discuss with Carth and the security force here on what could be done to strength protection around those they were aiding. There was no telling when and where the remaining Sith guard would strike again. Or even if they cared about their original targets anymore.

Thus, having Darious go off on his own with his padawan wouldn't work. Despite Darious's skill in stealth operations, Revan didn't know how well trained the Sith group were. He could assume well, given what Jeri had informed him on. As well as the fact Sighta was amazed he'd killed one.

A small chuckle fled.

Her surprise was more because of how little she thought of Revan's abilities than anything else. Or, more over, Alvar's abilities. She was looking for Revan, after all.

Alan cleared his throat.

Revan look at the man… his father.

Alan's gaze was locked on Rana who was glaring over her spoon at Revan.

"What was with the chuckle?" Rana hissed.

Revan blinked. "I was only thinking on a matter related to the Order," Revan stated. It was for the best to tell her this much at least, lest he seem ruder than he was intending.

Her eyes brightened. "What matter?"

His eyes narrowed.

"One which doesn't concern us," Alan intervened. His father looked at him and cleared his throat. "Do you still like cooking?"

It was a blatant attempt to move the subject away from the Order. Revan smiled. One which was most welcome.

"From time to time," Revan replied. "I don't cook often though. Generally, when Bastila is out for the evening and before that," – he frowned. When had been the time he had cooked before marrying Bastila? They had rarely eaten anything but rations while looking for the Star Forge. Same with the Jedi Civil and later Mandalorian Wars. So perhaps the last time had been the early Revanchist Movement – "probably the early Revanchist Movement."

Alan blinked.

Rana stared. "So, you've not cooked in what twenty years?"

"I did say 'when Bastila is out for the evening,'" Revan repeated. "So, outside of today, less than a month ago."

"You used to love to cook as a child," Alan stated, his gaze pained as he looked back the dishes he was preparing. "You would wake me long before dawn just to get started on the pies for the day."

"I still enjoy cooking," Revan informed him. Even if he used the Force to do a lot of it, it was still fun.

"Why don't you do it right then? Or more often?" Rana demanded.

Alan shot her a hard look.

She cringed. "Sorry," she muttered.

"I don't cook very often because after ten years of eating rations and military food, I doubt I have a sense of taste." As did Bastila, given he stated rations and military food was fine. They were fine. Sure, their taste wasn't the best, but it was better than starving and it did have the basic needs of the body.

Alan laughed. "Military food is far better than starving." His eyes shone with the grin spreading over his face.

"No, it's not!" Rana made a face. "I can't see why anyone would like that crap. It's so bland and nasty."

Revan looked at the girl. "Have you ever been so hungry you felt as if you would faint with it?"

"No," she confessed. "There's always something to eat nearby or a place to pick up more food."

"Any kind of edible food is better than starvation," Revan told her. "A ration can be the difference between life and death for soldiers trapped behind enemy lines and those who are captured are given worse than military food. Sometimes they're given nothing at all. After all, what better way to break a man than deprive them of food and water for days on end."

"That's cruel!"

"It's reality."

"But…" Rana stared.

"Do you honestly think the Jedi captured early in the Mandalorian Wars were feed?" Revan demanded. "Think for a moment on just how expensive it would be to continually feed 'test subjects.'"

"There's no way. It's not right. The Republic would never do—"

"They would and have. As have the Jedi. War is a brutal existence and time. How would the people take it if their taxes were spiked to feed the captured enemy?"

"They wouldn't mind."

"They would," Alan stated. "Taxes are high during times of war, just to fund the soldiers and give them the basics in food. Most would go for funding the weapons and ships needed to make it through the war. It is one reason why so many families are still suffering after the Civil War."

Rana dropped her gaze. "I didn't know." She glared at Revan. "But, I beat you never even felt what it was like to be captured."

Revan couldn't help it, he laughed.

"What?"

"I've been captured many times."

"You were far too important during both years!" Rana snapped.

"No, I really wasn't. Sure the Mandalorians never got me, but Jedi captured me during the Civil War or we wouldn't be talking now."

Rana shifted. "Still, you were too important to starve."

"That is one way to look at it." Revan smiled at her. Yes, one way. The other being he'd never been held longer than a few hours. "Then we were captured during the search for the Star Forge as well."

"You were?" Rana breathed.

"How else do you think Malak got a hold of Bastila during the war?"

"I didn't," she trailed off.

Revan shook his head. "The point is, there are worse things than rations out there to eat and far worse fates."

Rana stared at the dish she was preparing. "Umm," she broke the silence, "why would the Sith want to capture you? You were Darth Revan."

"Malak was in charge of the Sith by that point. Those I was with were a threat and thus we were captured."

"Were you, you know, tortured or," – she swallowed hard – "starved?"

All right, that was weird. Though starvation was a form of torture. "It depends on your definition of tortured as starvation is just another way to torture someone."

"All right, what are the ways?"

"Starvation, physical torment, psychological, and more. I don't know if I have ever had the starvation torture done to me but the other two have happened." Revan shrugged.

Clang.

Alan had dropped his spoon. It clattered against the floor. "Are you all right?" His gaze locked on Revan. His eyes wide.

"Fine." Revan frowned. It was understandable how Alan was acting. If Vaner had been tortured… Still, Revan wasn't helpless and knew why all of them had happened.

"When? How?" Alan took hold of Revan's arms.

Revan blinked. All right. Now he was over reacting.

"Please." Alan locked gazes with Revan.

"All right. In memory, when we were captured by Saul Karath, he tortured Bastila physically to get to me mentally." He left out the fact they had also phycially tortured him even after he had passed out. There was no need to overly concern Alan. "Another time was on Korriban, when the former Sith lord of the Sith academy captured me and another hopeful. I took the physical torture because the other hopeful wouldn't be able to survive it." Was there another time? Perhaps there was, within the months between the two years he had forgotten. It was best to leave well enough alone though. Though, it had been torture trying to regain his memory and the fact Bastila hadn't always been supportive of the desire.

Alan relaxed. "You don't seem concerned about it," he whispered.

Revan shrugged when Alan released him. It wasn't a matter to dwell on. They had been moments while trying to get to the Star Forge. The worst part of all those events was not being able to stop Malak capturing Bastila or when he had been forced to face her when she'd fallen and become Malak apprentice. Not to mention the memory of – Revan closed his eyes – of killing Malak. If he had been forced to kill Bastila as well…

It hadn't happened. She was alive and well.

The rest of the preparations passed in near silence, broken only from time with a little small talk between Alan and Rana. Alan attempted to include Revan and Revan replied when needed. However, none of the topics were as pryingly deep as the one he'd attempted to use to make a point. The point seemed to have backfired as Alan kept casting him worried looks.

Well, that was the last time Revan confessed to having been tortured before his father.

The dishes were set across the same table they'd used for lunch. It was really the only one large enough for all of them, plus Reca, Meca, and Darious were joining them this time.

"This is going to be great!" Reca rubbed her hands together. Her eyes glittered, mouth a little open as she stared at the dishes. "It's been forever since I got to taste Little Runner's cooking." She breathed in the scents of the food.

"I helped too, Aunt Reca."

"Yeah, but I get to taste your delicious cooking every day," Reca pointed out.

Revan glanced at a smaller table in the other room. Given the three new members to the table, Alan had set one up for the children. Well, all but Rana given she was an adult. Vaner was talking to his cousins, eyes shining. He dug into his plate.

Revan took a seat between Bastila and Darious.

His old friend chuckled. "She's excited." He looked at Revan out of the corner of his eye. "I take it 'Little Runner' is her nickname for you."

"It's the family's nickname for him," Meca informed Darious. Her voice was softer than Reca's. Her dark purple eyes, identical to her sister's locked on them. "He used to run everywhere as a child."

"You've known Little Runner a long time, didn't he run a lot when you two were younger?" Reca asked as she ladled a few of the dishes onto her plate.

"No, not really. But such behavior would have been frowned upon by the masters."

"Perhaps we should discuss the matter of the two who took our name." Sasha smiled. Her gaze soft as she looked at all of them. "Though, this is an interesting topic as well, I am still curious to what pulled my husband and Alvar away today."

"I am as well." Alan settled himself in his own seat beside Justin.

"As all of you are aware," Revan started with a glance at Justin. His brother nodded. "Early this morning, two women entered the station with the surname 'Tarvon.' The security team had been tracking them as there were no records of more Tarvons outside of those here.

"I had sent Darious, his padawan, and my own to investigate a disturbance I had sensed this morning." Revan bowed his head to Darious so he could pick up the story.

"We went to the security station early in the investigation into the disturbance," Darious informed them. "It was there Commander Varnon requested our aid in assessing and apprehending the two women as they hadn't illegally come into Republic space. Rather they had sliced into the systems to give themselves the names Jeri and Sighta Tarvon."

Alan stiffened.

Curious.

If they were related, it did only follow Alan would recognize their names.

"As you're no doubt aware I contacted Alvar for his opinion over the matter before aiding the commander."

Revan kept his gaze on Alan.

"We quickly apprehended the women. We ascertained the younger woman, Sighta, was a Sith while her mother, Jeri, seemed to have been carrying military grade weapons," Darious continued. "It appears the two women came here looking for Revan and," – Darious looked at Alan – "you, Alan."

"That's stupid, what could a Sith gain from grandfather." Rana shook her head. "I mean, he's the best cook ever, but outside this."

Alan's gaze had dropped to his food.

"You know them, don't you?" Revan asked.

"It was a very long time ago, but, yes, I knew a woman by the name Jeri and baby by the name Sighta," he confessed. "However," – he looked up – "I assumed you did a DNA test to see if their story holds true?"

Revan bowed his head.

"I would rather wait before drawing conclusions on if their story is true or not. It could be as you told us earlier today and they merely took the names to get close to the family." Alan smiled. "It's better to play it safe."

"So, she could be your wife then?" Reca asked.

Alan bowed his head.

"Well, if she is your wife, then I can't see why she wouldn't be accepting of us," Reca huffed as she gestured to her sister. "I mean, we're part of his family, no matter her thoughts on us."

Alan smiled. "You are my daughters, no matter what."

"On those who attacked the Jedi earlier today," Sasha changed t he subject, "do you know what they're after?" Her gaze locked on Revan.

"They appeared to be after the two women," Revan confessed.

"Then why attack you and the rest of the Order?" Rana demanded.

"Because Jedi are prime targets for Sith. They most likely saw it as a chance to get rid of the Jedi once and for all. However," – Revan held up a finger – "given their real targets are the two women, I requested Meetra and Jasper stay at the security center tonight."

"Hmm," Justin frowned, his hand on his chin. "I would feel safer if Jedi also stayed with us tonight. If the women are related to us, we could end up a target as well."

This was true.

"Perhaps you three could stay the night?" The worry melted from Alan's features as he looked at Bastila, Revan, and Darious.

"I'll contact Carth." Bastila stood. "Though, I doubt there is any issue over it." Her gaze lingered on Revan before she nodded and left the room.

"I should see to contacting Darrell." Alan also stood.

"I'll get the dishes!" Rana leapt to her feet. She cast a smug look towards Revan.

He didn't even try to ask to help. It was more than clear she wanted this task all to herself.

It wasn't long until Bastila returned. "Carth agreed it would be for the best we stayed here. I also informed the padawans they were tasked with guarding the ship while we're away."

"Thank you." Revan bowed his head. It was for the best. There was no telling if the Sith would change targets to Carth or not. Right then it appeared they were more interested in the Jedi than anyone else.

Alan returned shortly after. "Darrell agreed to the plan," he informed them. His gaze lingered on Darious. "He stated he will discuss it with you in the morning."

Darious nodded. His eyes narrowed.

Revan looked away from his oldest friend. Perhaps he shouldn't have suggested this. Still, there was bound to be some feelings lingering in Darious over his family. Revan had a few though most of them were the fact they would have hated him for the life he'd led.

"Come," – Justin stood and gestured towards them – "I can show you three to the spare rooms."

Justin's apartments were massive. There were more bedrooms in this one apartment than Revan had seen before on a station. Granted, he had never been in a senator's apartment before now.

"Thank you." Revan bowed to Justin.

Justin shifted and nodded. He left the room.

Vaner had been given his own room as well.

Bastila turned to him. "You need sleep." Her touch was soft as she brushed her thumb just before his eye. "Even if you have nightmares, promise me you will try to sleep."

"I promise."

Her eyes softened. "Thank you for going through with this. I know it isn't easy, especially everything which happened today."

Revan chuckled. "Perhaps not but it's no worse than facing down hordes of Mandalorian and Sith forces."

Bastila's eyebrows rose. "Really?" She laughed. "You seem more in element when facing down foes than you did today."

"True enough." Revan grinned. "But this is just another form of a battlefield if you think about it," his lightened with the words.

"Revan!" Bastila hands went to her hips. She scowled.

He burst out laughing. Through the laughter he managed to gasp out, "I was joking."

"Of course you were." Bastila shook her head. Her eyes glittered. The scowl melted away to a smile. "Come, let's get some sleep. Tomorrow promises to be just as eventful as today was."

(Author's note: Well, Revan opens up and ends up regretting.)